Tseung Kwan O Hospital may call off its plan to start offering obstetrics services next year, a Hospital Authority source says. The shelving of the plan could be due to expected lower demand in the wake of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's order to restrict the number of mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong. The hospital's decision may increase pressure on Christian United Hospital to take care of mothers-to-be.

Monday, Ming Pao Daily

Chinachem sought help from vice-president on Wang estate

The Chinachem Charitable Foundation - controlled by Dr Kung Yan-sum, brother of late tycoon Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum - wrote late last year to Vice-President Xi Jinping requesting help administering Wang's HK$60 billion fortune, sources said. The letter asked Xi to appoint former vice-premier Tian Chenggang as a middleman between Hong Kong and Beijing to help monitor the charity fund.

Tuesday, HK Economic Times

PricewaterhouseCoopers asks workforce to take unpaid leave

Accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers has asked its 10,000-plus workforce in Hong Kong and on the mainland to take unpaid leave for eight days in the coming six months to avoid lay-offs amid weak activity in initial public offerings. The firm also introduced a voluntary career break, which allows staff to take leave of up to six months on 20 per cent of their salaries.

Wednesday, Apple Daily

Hairy-crab craze has diners pouring into Hong Kong streets

Shops from fruit stalls to Chinese ink-painting galleries are selling - without eatery or liquor licences - hairy crabs, a popular seasonal dish. Even the Yan Wo Tofu snack chain is selling hairy crabs at its seven branches; at its Mong Kok and Causeway Bay outlets, customers can eat the crabs with wine. But some shops are obstructing streets as they put tables and chairs outside after nightfall to cater to more customers.

Thursday, The Sun

Ring extracting and selling human eggs busted in Shenzhen

Shenzhen authorities have busted a facility in Lunghua district that traded illegally in human eggs. The facility collected eggs from young women, paying them up to 60,000 yuan (HK$73,900), and sold the eggs to women with fertility problems for more than 100,000 yuan. Reporters found many similar facilities on the mainland. Reports claimed the procedure could be carried out in Hong Kong and the "donor" could receive 20,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan in compensation.

Friday, Ming Pao Daily

Hawker-cum-philanthropist dies after 13 years of giving to the poor

Uncle Lai, a hawker in his 70s who had been visiting Dongguan twice every lunar month for the past 13 years to give cash to local beggars, died recently in Hong Kong. His widow travelled to Dongguan to donate on his behalf for the last time. Lai is believed to have given away HK$400,000 and once said giving money to help the poor made him healthy.